Ten people were injured on Friday in a clash between the supporters of the Trinamul Congress and the BJP in Nandigram over elections to a co-operative society.

Trinamul won all 12 seats, defeating the BJP in Nandigram, the home constituency of the leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.

Both sides clashed over allegations of voter intimidation and the involvement of “outsiders” in the co- operative elections.

“Nandigram police had to struggle to bring the situation under control. Clashes took place intermittently for about three hours. Later, a large police force was brought from nearby police stations and brought the situation under control,” said a police officer.

Sources said a total 12 seats went to vote in the Veturia cooperative society in Nandigram.

“Trinamul won one seat unopposed. Elections were held on Friday in the remaining 11 seats. The main fight was between Trinamul and BJP. CPM fielded candidates in six seats,” said a source, adding that clashes broke out around 11am.

One Trinamul supporter was seriously injured after being hit to the head with a stick. He was admitted to Tamluk District Hospital in critical condition.

Trinamul president of Nandigram-II block Arunabh Bhuinya said, “BJP gathered outsiders to prevent voting beating our workers and supporters. Eight Trinamul workers were injured, while the condition of five is critical.”

Asked, BJP leader Meghnad Pal said, “We are not the obstacle, they are the ones who are obstructing voting. By beating our workers... They won the elections by rigging the votes.”

Trinamul won Nandigram in all the elections following the 2007 land agitations. In the 2021 Assembly polls, BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari won in Nandigram by defeating Mamata Banerjee. Suvendu won by 1,965 votes after a close fight.

A district leader of Trinamul Congress said: “We are trying to regain lost ground by treating various cooperative elections as semi-finals before the panchayat elections. We are guarding the voters and bringing them to the booths. Those who once were in the BJP are now in conflict in Nandigram as they have gone to the polls. But we are winning in all the seats.”